The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 537

the name of Cherethim nncl Pelcthim. We clay," literally, "of (or for) their morrow," here find the Chcrethim inhabiting the seem to prove that it was in the evening southern portion of the land of the Philis- that Davi<l arrived. Moreover, in the morn- tines, 11,nd such was still the case in the days ing they woul<l not have been feasting, but of Zephaniah (Zeph. ii. 5, and compare Ezek. sleeping. David probably attacked them at xxv. 16). As David retained Ziklag (eh. once, ancl slew all within reach until night- xxviL 6), he appears to have chosen the men fall. The next morning the battle was re- who were to guard his person from this newed; but as David ha<!. but 400 men, and neighbourhood, havinll probably been strnck the Amalekites covered a large extent of by their stature and martial bearing when country, and probably tried to defen<l them- dwelling among them. Hence it is probable selves and their booty, it was not till towards that the Pelethim were also a Philistine race. the next evening that the combat ancl the pur- Whether the Cherethim and the Philistines suit were over. As they would need pasture generally came from Crete to Palestine is a and water for their cattle, they had evidently very disputed question, but they were cer, broken up into detachments, which hacl gone tainly not indigenous, but immigrants into each into a different place with their herds. Canaan. Caleb. Upon the settlement of the The pursuit must have been prolonged to a Israelites in Canaan, Hebron with a large considerable distance, as no more than 400 district in the south of J uclah was assigned young men escaped, and even they only by to Caleb the Kenezite, who with his clan had the aid of their camels. been incorporated into th·e tribe of Judah. Vers. 18, 19. - Recovered. Hebrew, Though the town was afterwards assigned to "rescued," or "delivered." The word oc- the priests, the whole country round remained curs again in the second clause of the verse, subject to Caleb (J osb. xxL 11, 12), and con- ancl is there translated " rescued." Had tinued to bear bis name. Evidently the carried a.wa.y. Hebrew, "had taken." In Amalekites, beginning on the east, had swept ver. 19 recovered is literally "caused to the whole southern district of J ndah before return," i. e. restored. entering the country of the Philistines, where Ver. 20.-This verse, which is made unin- they no doubt burnt Ziklag in revenge for telligible in the A. V. by the insertion of the David's cruel treatment of them. unauthorised worcl which, is really free from Ver. 15. -To this comp&ny. Better, difficulty. After David, as related in vers. " troop." The word signifies a band of sol- 18, 19, had recovered the cattle carried oft diers, robbers, or the like. Required by by the Amalekites, he also took all the flocks David to act as his guide, the Egyptian con- and herds belonging to them ; and his own sents upon condition that David bind him- men "ma<le these go in front of that body self neither to kill him, it being one of the of cattle, and sai<l, This i~ David's spoil," unscrupulous customs of ancient warfare to i. e. they presented it to him by acclamation. put deserters, persons forced to act as guides, It was this large booty which he distributed and even noncombatants, to death to save among his friencls (vers. 26-31). trouble ; nor give him up to his master, DAVID ENACTS A LAW FOR THE DIVISION who would treat him in the same way. OF THE SPOIL (vers. 21-25). Vers. 21, 22. Ver. 16.-When he h&d brought them -On returning David finds the 200 strag down. Though left behind, the Egyptian knew glers, whom they had ma.de to a.bide a.t the the course which the Amalekites intended brook Besor. Rather, "whom he had made to take, and was thus able to bring David to abide," as it was David's office to give such quickly up to them, as they would move a commo.n<l. The singular is supportecl by slowly because of their large booty of cattle. all the versions except the Cho.hlee, and by On overtaking them David found them dis- some MSS. David had made such men as were persed in scattered groups abroe.d upon e.11 growing weary halt at the torrent, because it the earth (literally, "over the face of all the was a fit place where to collect the stragglers, land"), ea.ting e.nd drinking, e.nd dancing. and nlso, perhaps, because it would have re- More probably, "feasting." The word liter- quired time and labour to get the baggage ally means keeping festival; but though across. All the more wickecl nncl worthless they had solemn dances at festivals, yet, as (see on eh. i. 16) members of the force now is the case with our word feast-i711J, good propose to give the 200 only their wives and eating was probably tho uppermost idea; still childr~n, and semi them away with no share the word may have only the general sense of the spoil. Besides the sheep and oxen of "enjoying themselves as on a festival." given to David, there would be camels and DEFEAT OF THE AMALEKITES AND RE· other animals, arms, gold and silver, cloth- OOVERY OF THE WOMEN AND SPOIL (vers. 17 ing, and other personal property. -20). Ver. 17.-From the twilight. It has Ver. 23, 24.-Ye shall not do so, my been dobated whether this means th~ even- brethren. David rejects thoit· unjust pro- ing or the morning twilight; but the words posal kindly, but firmly. With that which. which follow, "unto the evening of the next [. e. in respect of that which, &e. Who will .5'i0 THE FIHST BOOK OF S.UlUEL. [en. XXX, 1-31.